Employment-Based immigration policies are opening positions faster than they can be filled. Per the U.S. Department of Labor, there is a direct connection between the labor shortage and employment-based immigration policies. The decrease of foreign workers threaten multiple sectors of the U.S. economy.

A recent study conducted by the Department of Labor found that:

• The percentage of American born workers in the labor force declined from 62.1% to 61.8% in last twelve months.
• The percentage of foreign workers in the U.S. dropped from 67.0% to 66.3% during the same time.

There simply isn’t much interest among U.S. citizens to fill positions managed by foreign-born workers.

The decline in available foreign-born workers is already having a negative effect on some sectors of the economy. The healthcare industry is among the most severely impacted. Hospitals are struggling to find nurses, nurse aides, environmental services workers and other critical healthcare staff.

Research conducted by The Economist found that wage growth in occupations with high proportions of foreign workers, such as janitors and construction workers, is slowing down. This means there isn’t enough competition among U.S. citizens to fill these occupations. The downturn coincides with the start of stricter immigration enforcement measures.

As always, ImmigrationUSA actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, we’re with you every step of the way.